Steering mechanism for tractors



Feb. 14, 1933.` G. T. RONK 1,897,180

STEERING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS Filed Feb. 28', 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 14, 1933. G. T. RoNK 1,897,180

STEERING MEGHANISM FOR TRACTORS Filed Feb. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2:

Patented Feb. 14, 1933 -UNITED STATES GEORGE T. RONK, F CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

STEERING MECHANISBI FOR TRACTORS Application led February128, 1928. Serial No. l257,772.

This invention relates to improvements in steering mechanism as applied to that type of tractors employing what is commonly known as the link treads, and in that type of 5 steering mechanism in which one of the tread members is thrown out of operative relation with the driving mechanism and locked against movement while the other tread member is thrown into operative relation 0 with Vthe driving mechanism. My present invention pertains to that part of the mechanism for locking the tread and for throwing it into and out of operation with the driving mechanism, and is particularly designed to be used in connection with the mechanism illustrated in my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent tiled January` sists in providing a brake drum insteadof a` cone clutch, having a band brake for locking the drum against movement, said drum inn cluding one member of the jaw clutch for locking the pinion and the driving shaft together, and to provide improved mechanism for simultaneously operating said jaw clutch and said brake band, whereby the brake band will be set at the time the jaw clutches are D disengaged, or vice versa; and to provide in connection therewith a yieldable member whereby the said brake band and jaw clutches may be automatically thrown -to their normal working positions.

`y invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more Vfully set forth, pointed out in my claim7 and j illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 2. Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view takenI taken taken I have used. the reference numeral '10 to Y' indicate the frame of a ditcher truck which is provided with bearing members 11 and 12. The said bearing members are designed to rotatively support a driving shaftv 13 driven by means of a gear 14'forming a part of the differential gear mechanism. :The outer end' of the shaft 13 is provided with a sleevev15 rotatively` mounted thereon and within the bearing 11. The outer end of the sleeve 15 has a sprocket wheel 16 for the purpose of driving one of they tread members of the truck. The inner end of the sleeve 15 is provided with a brake drum 16a having a web portion 17, said drum being fixed to thel sleeve.

brake band 18 of the usual construction, hav- 4 The drum 16a is provided Vwith a ing one end fiXedly by means of a bolt 19 secured in a bracket 20' supported from the frame 10. The said bolt 19 has nuts 21 whereby the fixed end of theband 18 may be adjusted relative to the drum 16.

The opposite end of the band 18 ispivotally connected to an arm22 mounted on a rock shaft 23 supported in a bearing 24a carried by the bracket 20, as clearly illustrated in vFigures 1 and 3. The shaft 23 is also provided with a rock arm 24 supported inside of the inner edge of the drum 16 a slight distance. The shaft 13 is providedwith a fluted portion 25 on which is feathered a hub 26 supporting a diskv 27 having laterally projecting teeth 28 designed to enter openings 29 in the web 17 of the drum 16. The disk 27, the teeth 28 and the web portions between the openings 29 form what I shall term a jaw clutch. The disk 27 and the teeth 28 form one member of the clutch, while the web 17 formsthe 'other'y member of the jaw clutch.y The'hub 26 is 

